Former ruling Armenian party denounces charges of public funds embezzlement leveled against ex-president Serzh Sargsyan
05.12.2019,
09:40
The former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) denounced the charges of public funds embezzlement brought yesterday against its chairman and ex-president Serzh Sargsyan, describing them as ‘a flagrant manifestation of political persecution.’
YEREVAN, December 5. /ARKA/. The former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) denounced the charges of public funds embezzlement brought yesterday against its chairman and ex-president Serzh Sargsyan, describing them as ‘a flagrant manifestation of political persecution.’
Earlier on Wednesday, Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) said it had obtained sufficient evidence during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case to charge ex-president Serzh Sargsyan with particularly large embezzlement of public funds.
According to a SIS statement, Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from April 9, 2008 to April 9, 2018, used his official position to organize with a group of officials the embezzlement of 489,160,310 drams (an equivalent of more than $1 million) in a period of time from January 25, 2013 to February 7, 2013.
"We have always expressed our concern about the processes taking place in Armenia, about the situation in the country, injustice, political persecution, violation of fundamental freedoms, the inadmissibility of an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance, as well as about security challenges Armenia and Artsakh are facing," the HHK statement said.
It said the party considers the accusation to be “false and absurd,” fabricated (by the ruling government) to silence political opponents amid threats to Armenia and Artsakh.
"With the help of such tough steps, the authorities also seek to divert the attention of the Armenian people from many other problems, which are becoming more and more urgent," the party said.
HHK puts all the responsibility on the current authorities of Armenia and promised to raise this issue on relevant international platforms.
According to SIS, Serzh Sargsyan ensured that a government tender announced for the supply of diesel fuel in 2013 was won by Flash LLC, whose owner Barsegh Beglaryan is believed to have had close ties with the ex-president.
The government paid Flash over 1.8 billion drams ($3.8 million) for the delivery of 17 million tons of fuel to thousands of low-income farmers across the country, however, another private company, Maxhur, offered a lower price for the same quantity of diesel fuel which would have allowed the government to save 489 million drams. -0-
Earlier on Wednesday, Armenia's Special Investigation Service (SIS) said it had obtained sufficient evidence during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case to charge ex-president Serzh Sargsyan with particularly large embezzlement of public funds.
According to a SIS statement, Serzh Sargsyan, who served as president from April 9, 2008 to April 9, 2018, used his official position to organize with a group of officials the embezzlement of 489,160,310 drams (an equivalent of more than $1 million) in a period of time from January 25, 2013 to February 7, 2013.
"We have always expressed our concern about the processes taking place in Armenia, about the situation in the country, injustice, political persecution, violation of fundamental freedoms, the inadmissibility of an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance, as well as about security challenges Armenia and Artsakh are facing," the HHK statement said.
It said the party considers the accusation to be “false and absurd,” fabricated (by the ruling government) to silence political opponents amid threats to Armenia and Artsakh.
"With the help of such tough steps, the authorities also seek to divert the attention of the Armenian people from many other problems, which are becoming more and more urgent," the party said.
HHK puts all the responsibility on the current authorities of Armenia and promised to raise this issue on relevant international platforms.
According to SIS, Serzh Sargsyan ensured that a government tender announced for the supply of diesel fuel in 2013 was won by Flash LLC, whose owner Barsegh Beglaryan is believed to have had close ties with the ex-president.
The government paid Flash over 1.8 billion drams ($3.8 million) for the delivery of 17 million tons of fuel to thousands of low-income farmers across the country, however, another private company, Maxhur, offered a lower price for the same quantity of diesel fuel which would have allowed the government to save 489 million drams. -0-
